2021 College Football Insider | Week 13

2021 · Week 1 3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 13

Quote of the week “It’s going to be written as something I did but, in reality, it’s a reflection of the whole team – offensive line protecting me, receivers getting open, running backs helping on the pass and rush game and coaches calling great plays.”

- QB Bryce Young on breaking Alabama’s single-game passing record with 559 yards

TEAM TO WATCH:

Ohio State

In one of the biggest matchups of the year, Ohio State dominated then-No. 7 Michigan State to retain sole control of the Big Ten East and enhance its College Football Playoff chances. The Buckeyes 56-7 victory is the largest margin of victory in a game featuring two top-seven teams since 1945, when Army defeated Pennsylvania, 61-0. The big win improved the Buckeyes place in the CFP Rankings from No. 4 to No. 2.

Ohio State QB CJ Stroud threw six touchdown passes and 432 yards in the first half alone. Stroud also broke a program record by recording 17 consecutive completions in the first half. The Buckeyes scored a touchdown on their first seven offensive drives and, by halftime, recorded 500 yards of offense to jump out to a 49-0 lead.

Ohio State will face No. 5 Michigan this week in our Caesars Sportsbook Game of the Week.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:

Utah

In another highly anticipated Week 12 matchup, No. 19 Utah took down then-No. 3 Oregon 38-7, dashing the Ducks’ CFP dreams.

The Utes took control of the game with a touchdown late in the first quarter then piled on the points throughout the half. Utah WR Britain Covey returned a 78-yard punt with seconds left in the first half to give Utah a 27-0 lead heading into the locker room. Utes RB Tavion Thomas led the team’s rushing attack with 94 yards and three touchdowns and TE Brant Kuithe was the biggest contributor on the receiving end with five receptions for 118 yards.

Having clinched the Pac-12 South title, Utah may face Oregon again in the Pac-12 Championship if the Ducks defeat Oregon State this weekend. Before that, Utah will host Colorado on Friday, Nov. 26 at 2:00 p.m.

(AZ Time) on FOX.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 13

games of the week #9 OLE MISS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE 11.25 | 5:30 PM | ESPN

#3 ALABAMA AT AUBURN

CFP Week 13 Rankings 1. GEORGIA

6. NOTRE DAME

2. OHIO STATE

7. OKLAHOMA STATE

3. ALABAMA

8. BAYLOR

4. CINCINNATI

9. OLE MISS

5. MICHIGAN

10. OKLAHOMA

For full rankings, click here.

11.27 | 1:30 PM | CBS

PENN STATE AT #12 MICHIGAN STATE 11.27 | 1:30 PM | CBS

game of the week #2 OHIO STATE AT #5 MICHIGAN It has all built up to this.

#10 OKLAHOMA AT #7 OKLAHOMA STATE 11.27 | 5:30 PM | ABC

#6 NOTRE DAME STANFORD

AT

11.27 | 6:00 PM | FOX For a full schedule of Week 13 games, click here. (All times in AZ time)

No. 2 Ohio State will travel to Ann Arbor, along with ESPN’s College GameDay and FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, to face No. 5 Michigan in what is arguably the biggest game of the season.

The two teams are competing for more than just rivalry bragging rights, but the Big Ten East title, a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and, potentially, a CFP bid. Ohio State is an eight-point favorite with the over/under opening at 64 points.

Ohio State is bringing the top offense in the country into this game but, hasn’t faced a defense quite like Michigan’s, which is ranked ninth in total defense, seventh in scoring defense and eighth in passing yards allowed With so much at stake, both teams will give it all they have on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 10:00 a.m. (AZ Time) on FOX. Fiesta Bowl fans can bet online NOW with Caesars Sportsbook.

Download the app today and place your bets!

2021-22 Bowl PREDICTIONS: PLAYSTATION ® FIESTA BOWL

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ESPN Bonagura – Notre Dame vs. Oregon

ESPN Bonagura – Texas Tech vs. Rutgers

ESPN Schlabach – Baylor vs. Oregon

ESPN Schlabach – West Virginia vs. Minnesota

CBS – Michigan State vs. Oklahoma State

CBS – West Virginia vs. Minnesota

USA Today – Baylor vs. Pittsburgh

USA Today – Nevada vs. Minnesota

Action Network – Cincinnati vs. Michigan State

Action Network – West Virginia vs. Rutgers

The Athletic – Michigan State vs. Notre Dame

The Athletic – West Virginia vs. Minnesota

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 13

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:

RAJ KAPUR

First Year as Volunteer: 2009 Favorite Fiesta Bowl Game: 2019 CFP Playoff Clemson vs. Ohio State Favorite Fiesta Bowl Job: Team Liaison

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:

Mike Williams

During the 2016 PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Mike Williams helped lead Clemson to a 31-0 CFP Semifinal win over Ohio State. The wide receiver’s six catches for 96 yards led the Tigers receiving attack. Clemson’s Fiesta Bowl win was followed by a National Championship victory over Alabama, during which Williams recorded eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Five years later and the receiver is still playing a big part in his team’s victories. On Sunday night, Chargers QB Justin Herbert found Williams for a 53-yard touchdown pass in the final minutes of the game, securing the Chargers 41-37 win over the Steelers. Williams finished the game with five receptions for 97 yards and currently leads the Chargers in average receiving yards per catch (15.3) and touchdowns (7).

Favorite Fiesta Bowl Moment: One of my favorite moments was being in the Clemson locker room as a team liaison at the 2019 CFP game to hear Coach Swinney’s pregame and halftime speech with the team.

Why I Serve the Fiesta Bowl: The Fiesta Bowl allows me to give back to the community in a very unique and special way. Giving back is something that was instilled in me at a young age and I have always been passionate about sports (both playing and coaching my kids). I have the pleasure of working with many non-profits in my professional and personal life and it has been very rewarding to see these organizations receive grants from the Fiesta Bowl over the years.

Jersey Giveaway!

Be sure you follow the Fiesta Bowl on Twitter (@Fiesta_Bowl) for your chance to win an authentic Ohio State jersey signed by Head Coach Ryan Day! You just have to follow the Fiesta Bowl on Twitter, retweet the post and wait for the random selection. It couldn’t be easier!

The Guaranteed Rate Bowl and Fiesta Bowl social media accounts are doing giveaways all season, so be sure to follow on all platforms for your chance at one-of-a-kind prizes!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 13

The Parade is on Its Way! Don’t miss the highly-anticipated return of the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner and Rowe, which will march down Central Avenue on Saturday, Dec. 18!

In less than a month, giant balloons, colorful community floats, local performers and much more will take over Downtown Phoenix for this spectacular parade, which is Arizona’s highest-attended single day event! The march will be led by Grand Marshals Alice Cooper and the Fiesta Bowl Founders, who perfectly encapsulate this year’s parade theme, “Gold Standard: A Commitment to Comm-UNITY.” The Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner and Rowe is free to all! Fans looking to elevate their experience can purchase premium and reserved seating for $30. Just CLICK HERE! If you can’t attend the big event, watch it live on Arizona’s Family 3TV, online and through the AZFamily app.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:

CAESARS SPORTSBOOK

BIG NEWS The Guaranteed Rate Bowl features Bowl Season’s only Big 12 vs. Big Ten matchup. As we eagerly await the Dec. 28 kickoff, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences. Here’s the BIG news from Week 13:

BIG 12 • The Big 12 has three teams in this week’s CFP Poll – No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 8 Baylor, No. 10 Oklahoma • Oklahoma State has clinched the program’s first appearance in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship game. The other spot will belong to either Baylor or Oklahoma depending on this week’s game results • Iowa State RB Breece Hall tied the NCAA FBS record for most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown at 23.

• Six Big 12 teams are currently bowl eligible. West Virginia and TCU need a win in their season finales to gain a spot in Bowl Season

BIG TEN • The Big Ten has five teams in the CFP rankings – No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 Michigan, No. 12 Michigan State, No. 14 Wisconsin, No. 16 Iowa • Ohio State earned at least a share of the Big Ten East title with its defeat of Michigan State. The Buckeyes have now claimed at least a share of the division title in each of the last 10 seasons • Wisconsin will clinch its fourth Big Ten championship appearance in the last six years if it wins its final regular-season matchup against Minnesota on Saturday. Wisconsin is tied for first in the Big Ten West with Iowa, but has a head-to-head advantage with a 27-7 win over the Hawkeyes • Purdue QB Aidan O’Connell threw a trio of touchdowns to WR Milton Wright, who recorded eight receptions for 213 yards, all career highs. Wright is the third Boilermaker to record over 200 yards in a game this season, the most ever in a single season

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 13

JA NUA RY 1 , 2022

DE CE M B E R 28, 2021

F I E S TA B O W L . O R G /FIESTABOWL

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 13